ANTALYA - NATO Mine Countermeasures Force South (MCMFORSOUTH) Fleet Commander Admiral Michael Mann said on Wednesday that there were not any mine threats in the Mediterranean at the moment.
NATO MCMFORSOUTH fleet has been paying a visit to southern Antalya province.
Mann, the commander of the fleet which anchored at Antalya port, said that FGS Werra and FGS Groemitz mine-sweepers of Germany, SPS Turia of Spain, ITS Lerici of Italy came to Antalya.
Admiral Mann noted that HS Evniki of Greece and Erdek of Turkey would join the fleet on Sunday.
There were 300 personnel in the fleet comprised of six mine-sweepers, Mann stated.
Mann pointed out that the fleet would later proceed from Antalya to western Canakkale province.
The fleet would exercise a joint maneuver with Turkish forces in Canakkale and later go to Crete island of Greece, Mann noted.
Mann said that the fleet was drawing the map of places which could be a mine threat in the Mediterranean and then, they were taking necessary measures in those places.
Stating that there was not any mine threat in the Mediterranean at the moment, Mann said that the fleet command was undertaken by another country every year.
Mann noted that the fleet aimed to show sea force capacity of NATO, draw map of the sea, determine the course, recognize the region and visit ports.
Admiral Mann added that the fleet would leave Antalya on October 29.
(BRC) 22.10.2003